The Regional Chair Early Years Niagara Literary Award Committee (RCEYNLA) has established a unique award for children's literature aimed at the 0-6 age group. 

A review of existing awards for excellence in children's literature showed that none existed in Canada for infants to age six. This award aims to draw attention not only to the value of reading with children in their early years when their brains are at peak development, but also to the need for quality books for this age group. 

Based on selection criteria, six outstanding books are shortlisted by the Selection Committee for the award. Families are encouraged to read these books together before voting online or by paper ballot at public libraries, Ontario Early Years Centres, and one of the five Niagara Region Child Care Centres.

The selected items for 2011 are:

 

	Uh-oh! Little Owl has fallen from his nest and landed with a whump on the ground. Now he is lost, and his mommy is nowhere to be seen! With the earnest help of his new friend Squirrel, Little Owl goes in search of animals that fit his description of Mommy Owl. But while some are big (like a bear) or have pointy ears (like a bunny) or prominent eyes (like a frog), none of them have all the features that make up his mommy.
	The horse loves hay, the chickens need feed, the geese munch on corn, the hogs devour slop, the dog eats treats, but the cow loves...COOKIES? With an original twist on the ordinary barnyard book, the latest read-aloud from bestselling author Karma Wilson is a clever exploration of a curious incident on the farm. As the farmer makes his rounds each day, most of the animals chew on the foods a young reader would expect. But when it's time to feed the cow, she feasts on a special treat. Wilson's signature style and Marcellus Hall's spirited watercolors will delight children on and off the farm--because when it comes down to it, who doesn't love milk and cookies?
	Friends come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. In Amos McGee's case, all sorts of species, too! Every day he spends a little bit of time with each of his friends at the zoo, running races with the tortoise, keeping the shy penguin company, and even reading bedtime stories to the owl. But when Amos is too sick to make it to the zoo, his animal friends decide it's time they returned the favor.
	When a bug sleeping on a jug is chased by a frog, he has to jump to get away. But then that frog (who's sleeping on a log) is in for a similar surprise! He's attacked by a cat...who needs to jump away from a dog...and on it goes, until not even a shark is free from getting a little fright! Building on repetition that's fun to read and fun to listen to, Jump! is a rip-roaring, read-aloud with simple rhymes and lively illustrations that leap off the pages.
	Soushi est un joli poisson, chic et charismatique. Un vrai boute-en-train. Le seul probl me, c ’est que Soushi est seul dans son bocal. Il s ’ennuie. Il part la recherche d ’un ami, mais n ’en trouve pas. Sera-t-il seul pour toujours? Heureusement pour lui, le destin lui r serve une surprise...Il sera bient t submerg par une vague d ’amour. En lisant cette charmante histoire aquatique, les enfants d couvriront les joies de l ’amiti et de l ’amour.
	One night in the Silly Savannah a ludicrous Leopard is leapfrogging to bed and a hat-wearing Hyena is half asleep when all of a sudden there is a terrible racket! The animals decide to follow the noise, but they are in for a big surprise - a tiny shrew and her snoring. She is rudely awakened, only for the animals to slump into a heap fast asleep and start their own snuffling and snoring. Time for shrew to get her own back.